Railway-switch stand



Feb. 9 1926.

G. L. THOMPSON RAILWAY SWITCH STAND Filed Sept. 23 1925 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

' nane- UNITED STATES rarsnr ea n GEORGE L. THOMPSON, 0E MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

RAILWAY-SWITCH STAND.

Application filed September 23, 1925. Serial No. 58,083.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. THOMPSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, county of Shelby, and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Switch Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch stands used for moving parts of railway track, coordinate with other parts in order to track cars onto sidings so that they may be cleared from the main right-ofway.

The object of my invention is to provide easier movement of these rail parts and to hold them in any predetermined position so that the jar of passing cars cannot move my device until actuated by a lever in the hands of a fswitchman.

is not necessary in my device to have excessive weights on this lever to become a burden to the operator or to assist him in moving the switch.

My invention contemplates a compact, self-contained outfit which will not be affected by the weather any more so than devices of this kind.

I have associated in my invention the necessary feature of a lamp stand, said lamp to be rotated suriiciently to expose one or more colored lights as desired.

I also include a vertical stafi on which will be fastened metal flags, indicating posi-- tiOn of switch, for use in day-time when light from a lamp could not be seen.

My invention contemplates the changeability of parts to overcome wear as described hereafter.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which several different views are presented, and where similar numbers refer to like parts in all views.

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of my in vention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end view;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line A A in Fig. 2.

In all views, 1 is the base plate formed with feet 2, and angular portion, 8 which with cover 4, completes a barrel-like section finished to receive ap other cylindrical part which can be rotated or slid in this outer barrel 3, 4.

, On a projection 6, of barrel 5, is a lever 7 with hand hold 8 which a switchman can use to rotate barrel 5. Attached to barrel 5 are studs 9, on which are rollers 10, which lie in paths 11, 11, which are in helical form in barrel 3, 4, there being one path in cap 4 and one in lower portion 3. These paths or slots guide the rollers as barrel 5 is rotated and tend to move barrel 5 along its axis as handle 8 is lifted and passed over to the dotted position12.

On the opposite end of barrel 5 from the handle, are three collars 18, 14, 15. Collars 13 and 15 are attached to barrel 5 and collar 14 swings loose with rollers in internal face having a tail 16, bent outward to which is attached the usual c oss bar extending to the rails and when barrel- 5 moves longitudinally, the collar 14 is carried along and hence moves the rails (not shown) as desired. These bands 13 and 15 are screwed to barrel by bolts slightlyoff center so that often some wear of faces next to 14, 13 and 15 may be reversed and new faces exposed. When the collar 14 wears a groove in barrel 5, the three collars can be taken oil and the barrel reversed. The lever being detachable can be put on either end, thus new surface is secured and life of the device greatly lengthened.

My invention has nothing to do with the type of switch, but can be made to operate a single or double throw system. The form of paths 11, 11 are of such shape that pres sure 011 ring 14 longitudinally, will not turn handle 8 over from one position to another.

To collar 14 is attached a link 17, and 17 is attached to lever 18 on staif 19 thus, if 19 were equipped with a lantern on its upper end 20, as is the usual practice with such stands, the direction of light would be changed according to rotation of the lantern.

Likewise a metal flag or pointer secured to staff 19, would be changed in direction, noting position of switch. The construction is such as to protect parts as much as possible, the paths 11, 11 being entirely covered and staff lever 18 is like-wise guarded.

.Having thus described my invention and ts uses, 1 advance the following claims;

1. In a 1'ailWay switch stand, a rotating barrel wltlr propelllng rollers, collars attached to barrel, a collar slldably arranged between two collars.

2. In ayrailnvay switch stand-, a rotating barrel: with fixed collars and loose collar connecting rail shifter, and propelling means to rotate a staff.

In a rail-way switch stand, a barrel with means to propel it longitudinally by 10 rollers in helical paths said barrel arranged to be interchangeable, end for end or top tobottom. I a

In testimony Whereof'I affix my signature.

GEORGE THOMPSON. 

